Metal screen frame



Jan. 9, 1951 L. E. WILLETT METAL SCREEN FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23, 1946 I'NVENTOR LEON E. WILLETT ATTORNEYS .1 I2 26 2911 FlG.-3

Jan. 9, 1951 L. E. WILLETT 2,537,109

' METAL SCREEN FRAME Filed March 23, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 57 5e 55 5e 32 5 L711 2 will! I FIG-6 I FIG-ll INVENTOR LEON. E. WILLETT ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 9, 1951 Chamber-fin Compan y of America, Detroit,

Mich, acorporatibn ofMichigan V "Application March 23,1946, Serial No. 656,644

8 Claims." (o1. 1605371) The invention relates to metal screens and more particularly to the screen frame, which is usually made upof. one or more sheetmetal members of generally channeledform. r. a i a One object of the invention is to provide an improved metal screen frame, including one or more bracing, reinforcing or supporting mem-. bers or elements mountedin the frame channel and of such formas to enable them to barn-anufactured at lowlcost and to be .more or less permanently assembled with or-- attached .to the frameby asimple bending operation, thereby entirely dispensing with welding or riveting operations and avoiding the use of screws, nuts, bolts orthe like. 1 w n 1- Still another object of. the invention isto'provide an improved screen frame element, of the characterdescribed, made of pressed sheet metal and formed: on one side to. interlock with one wall of the screen frame and deformable along its other. side for permanent securement to the frame. Still-another object of the invention is to provide an improved screen-frame member, "of the character described-including one or more .li'igs or projections on one edgeiarranged toregister with and enter cooperating recesses or openings on one wall of the frame channeLand provided along its "opposite edge with alocking portion which is readilydeformable in such manner as to effect more or less permanent securementor attachment of the member to the frame. I 7

Still another object is to simplify and improve the general construction of the frame as a whole, enabling it tobe made and assembled at low'c'ost', doing away with otherwise necessary welding or riveting operations or anyuse of; screws, fbolts; rivetsort'helike'. 9

Further objects of the invention inp'art are obvious and in part will appear more in -deta il hereinafter.

Inthedrawiflgsz Fig. 1 is an elevation partly broken outand in section, showingone form of detentions'creen embodying e fa irm: g

Fig.2 is-a detail'view,- on a larger scale, showing a mounting and adjusting parts for the screen panel,-and erta n of the locking parts, including several of elements, embodying the present invention, v 1 Fig; dis a detail cross sectionon the line3e-3,' w u a- I I "Fig. 4 is a" sectional 'yi'w taken on the line 45 -4,

, 2 ,i'Fig. 518 a sectional-view showing the hinge and the lock arrangements; 7 I l v Fig fi is a detail view showing another element embodying the invention; a I -Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line T-l, Fig. 6; Figs-8 and 9 are views corresponding to Figs. 6 and; 7, and showing still another embodiment; Fig. lGHis-a sectional view taken on the line iev Figs. 11 and 12 are views corresponding to Figs. 6 and 7, and showing yet another embodiment.

7 'While the. present invention-may be embodied in or used in connection with any shape or kind of screen for any building opening, such as either doorsvor windows, and in a frame of either light construction, such as an ordinary insect screen, or the heavier screens used as strong barriers, for convenience of illustration, and in nosense of limitation, the invention has been shown embodied in a detention screen, designed to prevent unlawful or unauthorized passage into'or out of thebuilding, such as might be accomplished, for example, by an insane patient or other confined person attempting to escape through a screen from theiinside of the building, or bya thief attempting to enter from the outside." Such screens usuallyconsist; of a :strong wire screenv panel mounted in ,ametal frame anchored in the build-- ing. The detention screen shown in the draw. ings, is of the same general form illustrated and described in aprio'r U. S. PatentNo. 2,417,711 granted M-arch'18, 1947, to Frank R.' E. Smith and .Leon'E.nWillett for Detention Screen,to which. reference may be had if desirable or nec'-' 'essary. 4- The screen shown comprises a four sided metal frame, marked generally llL'in which is' mounted the wire mesh screen panel I i. The metal frame consists of inner and outer members-M13, each extending around the four sides of the opening, said members being mitered at the corners and lying opposite to each other with"the'open sides of their channels facing each other when the screen frame is closed, as shown for example in Fig. '5. The two frame members are'hinged together on a vertical axis at it, Thusl'one of the frame channels, thatmarked l'3,"is'stationarily secured to the building; while the other channel, marked [2, can be'swimg in-' than about the hinge axis to open up. the frame. This ;latter swinging member is the one which supports, the screenpanel I l, as well as the lockingand other-operating members of the screen,

Of the four frame parts or members embodying the present invention, and instances of which are utilized in the screen shown in the drawings, the first to be described will be that used as a part of the supports for the screen panel.

As in the prior application before referred to, the screen panel, here marked l l,, has its several peripheral edges held in, clamping members, t5. Figs. 1 and 2, each suspended or mounted on one end of several long, leaf springs l5. Each spring leaf passes through an open yoke or 100p l1 into a threaded opening in which are screwed. the threads of a screw l8 for adjusting the spring tension. Each of these loops [has shownin the drawings, is provided with lateral feet or; 1 110,. jections I9 which travel back and forth inrecesses l9a underneath the side por-tions ofia plate metal guide member having a longitudinalslot 2|, the parallel side edges of which guide the yoke inits m9uement. The guideplate 2 0, in the form shown (Figs. 2; 3 and l) has one end edge p'ortion bent upwardly to provide a flange 22 from which extend two lugs 23SDQCEQ; apart lengthwise o; the frame channel and; which lugs, in the assembled device, enter openings 24* in theouter wall 25 of. the frame channel I2. The opposite end edge portionjof said plate guide is bentup to form a flange 26; portiqnsof which, marked- 21-, Fig. 2; serve as'abutn'i'ents engagingthe outwardly extending return edge flange of the inner inclined wall as ormembe' I2- (Fig. a). Gpposite to the nd-ofthe slotin plate 20; the twonange portions 21' are joined by a fairly narrow bridge portion 2'9-, capable of-beir'igbentreadily, as by the pressure or impactof a tool; or in a machine, to the curved form shown in the drawings, so that it-extendsbeneaththe'edge 'of the frame wall; 2-8, asshown inlfig. 8. By-insertin'g'the IligSZS-intO their openingsand then bending the bridge 29, with the-yoke inplace, said plateandthe yoke are both substantially permanently attached to the frame, with the; yoke 'ofcourse slidable alongthe plate, This is a very simple construction enabling the. slidable. -yoketobepermanently confined. against. escape, but without the use. of. welding, riveting, bolts on screws, or -othermore expensivemodes of attachment.

Figs. 6 and 7: of the drawings show: another frame plateimemben, here-.-markedr30, oneendz ofi which is bent toform a flange. 3|.- havinglugsdl adapted; to. enter." openings. cam. frame; wall: 38,- while the. opposite endportion of: said plate is out; awaytoform an opening 34; beyond which. is a.flange.3:5 adaptedsto abut theiedge. l.3a.offrame wall: l-fizand'also a bendablebridge"36iwhich, when 1' the plate is laid in place, may be bent to extend beneath and; interlock with. wall; I 13.0, for. permansntsequrement t he lata he-wa This particular platezaihhasaportioninear-its qsnte nunqhedi it amt-bani unt i o m. a lan e which. the. bwde enns se. screen. rame; are; l ed weathe s, erves s. a. bra and. sing, prev nting; he. tu hann ls. from e n beet. q is r ed e a iiely' ach e her n. e ii ai v he re a assa in ns t pntoi; sc ew. driver between them, and alsotpreventing inward: be d n of; he-flat. ody, 11 :Q t e. ha els toward. sas il an ba heabntms ttit e d eggs-P flang w h h z nn ur s -Qt me qhann l.

Ilia rame. attels. are. p ed. Q ethfilt nos s s icit b lackin echah fii; i the i finalisatown. n. lie and. 'a li s he edge of the swinging frame m mber iii) 4 are located one or more bolts actuated by cam plates 5| operated by rods or links 52, which in turn are operated by a crank arm 53 carried by a rotatable operating member 54, to which a handle or key may be attached for turning it.

As shown in Fig. 2, each operating member 54 is mounted to turn in an opening in a plate member'55 'correspondin o. members 2Q, 30, before referred to and similarly permanently anchored in the frame. Plate member 55 is provided with two diverging end arms 56, Figs. 8 and 9, each of which is; flanged upwardly and provided with a lug 51 adapted to enter an opening 58, Fig. 2, in

thechannelwalllas before, while at its opposite endthe plateisprovided with an opening 58a and a bendable bridge portion 59, which, similarly to bridge. 36, is. used; for permanently locking the plate in the frame channel.

Again, in Figs. 2, 10, 11 and 12, is illustrated a fourth plate member 60, which here is provided along one edgewith a series, five; being shown, of lugs- 51-, par t'of which extend above the frame wall 28', and part or which maybe bent or deformed, during the final act of assembly, to extendunderneath the edge or said; frame "walr 28, '(Seelowen endof Fig. 2-.) Said plalte'filr'also has a part thereof bent to.form two walls 62*, lyingparallelto each other; and itetntizi which the cam plate 5* slides, and=portions of which walls 62 are bent toform a cylindi ical-housing 63- forthe bolt 50, a portion 63a of which housing ex tends intoan opening' of the outer walk 23;- of thef-rame memb'er, thus-serving thesamepurpose a's-thelug's23 32'and 51. 'l hebolt is slotted 'to receive the cam plate 5|, and is provided 'with a cross-pin travelinghin an inclined slot '65, in the bolt, as. is usual;

This plate Boris assembled -inithe-frame, by'putting the bolt:impladeinsaidzplate, andthen inserting theicam plate and cross pin-i Then the plate is. inserted: into. the frame. channel with the housing member 630. entering opening 64. 'I hen.thebendableflangeportions Share-bent up, to lock the .partsdnplace, as before.

In all forms, the frame plate'member or ele' ment such assany of plates.20,"3fl, 55 and 60, is

provided at oneend: with 'aideformable part and at, the opposite-end: with, a ingpar-t entering anopening inia. wallzofithe frame channel member. It: alsoiextendszsomedistance, say.- an, inchor two, lens hwiseot thechannel Smthat it; cannot .cock or twist by tumingw movement. Each, when. its

. defarmabievpon ionzis bent asdescribed, is firmly and: e manently at ach d and: annot. be; rewed -Win er: L Q ii iQ 0m t of he,- parts; when: nm te.eaehr ee si s ar icu a purpose. eithe ah acafis aea su ppn zf a movable. operating device of one kind or another, spchas he aks mwsment 0f1 W.h .9h.- adjusts; the a rin tension, o he m abls; bol 50, Or,- cam. plate 5 l, or the bolt operating member- -5 4=, nll of the plate parts may be made cheaplyffrom sheet said base and extending from said base in angular relationship thereto, the second said flange having a continuous inturned free edge portion extending towards the first said flange, a plate member disposed between said flanges, the first said flange having an aperture therein, an edge portion of saidplate having a projection fitted to be insertible in said aperture, the edge of said plate opposite said projection having a portion abutting said inturned free edge, and another portion disposed beneath said free edge.

2. In a detention screen structure of the type .wherein a planar meshscreen panel has its edge portions resiliently suspended from peripheral supporting and retaining means, a screen supporting frame of channeled contour comprising a base portion disposed generally parallel to the plane of the screen panel, and first and second flanges spaced from each other and rigid with said base and extending from said base in angular relationship thereto, the second said flange having a continuous inturned free edge portion extending towards the first said flange, a plate member disposed between said flanges, the first said flange having an aperture therein, an edge portion of said plate having a projection fitted to be insertible in said aperture, the edge of said plate opposite said projection having a portion abutting said inturned free edge, and another readily deformable portion, said readily deformable portion being disposed beneath said free edge.

3. In a detention screen structure of the type wherein a planar mesh screen panel has its edge portions resiliently suspended from peripheral supporting and retaining means, a screen supporting frame of channeled contour comprising a base portion disposed generally parallel to the plane of the screen panel, and first and second flanges spaced from each other and rigid with said base and extending from said base in angular relationship thereto, the second said flange having an inturned free edge portion extending towards the first said flange, a plate member disposed between said flanges, the first said flange having two spaced apertures therein, an edge portion of said plate having two spaced projections respectively fitted to be insertible in said apertures, the edge of said plate opposite said projections having a portion abutting said inturned free edge, and another portion deformably disposed beneath said free edge.

4. In a detention screen structure of the type wherein a planar mesh screen panel has its edge portions resiliently suspended from peripheral supporting and retaining means, a screen supporting frame of channeled contour comprising a base portion disposed generally parallel to the plane of the screen panel, and first and second flanges spaced from each other and rigid with said base and extending from said base in angular relationship thereto, the second said flange having an inturned free edge portion extending towards the first said flange, a plate member disposed between said flanges, the first said flange having an aperture therein, an edge portion of said plate having a spaced projection fitted to be insertible in said aperture, the edge of said plate opposite said projection having spaced abutment portions abutting said inturned free edge, and a bridge portion extending between said abutment portions, said bridge portion being deformable and being disposed beneath said free edge, said plate being provided with surface contour means adapted to receive screen retaining and securing means.

5.: In a detention screen structure. of the .type wherein a planar mesh screen panel has: its edge portions resiliently suspended from peripheral supporting and retaining means, a screen supporting frame of channeled contour comprising a basepc-rtion disposed generally parallel to the plane of the screen panel, and first and second flanges spaced from each other and rigid with said base and extending from said base in angular relationship thereto, the second said flange having an inturned free edge portion extending towards the first said flange, a plate member disposed between said flanges, the first said flange having spaced apertures therein, an edge portion of said plate having spaced projections fitted to be insertible in said apertures, the edge of said plate opposite said projections having spaced abutment portions abutting said inturned free edge, and a bridge portion extending between said abutment portions and deformably disposed beneath said free edge, said plate being provided with a slot adapted to receive and guide screen retaining and securing means.

6. In a detention screen structure of the type wherein a planar mesh screen panel has its edge portions resiliently suspended from peripheral supporting and retaining means, a screen supporting frame of channeled contour comprising a base portion disposed generally parallel to the plane of the screen panel, and inner and outer flanges spaced from each other and rigid with said base and extending from said base in angular relationship thereto, the inner said flange having an inturned free edge portion extending towards the outer said flange, a plate member disposed between said flanges, the outer said flange having spaced apertures therein, an edge portion of said plate having spaced projections fitted to be insertible in said apertures, the edge of said plate opposite said projections having spaced abutment portions abutting said inturned free edge, and a bridge portion extending between said abutment portions and deformably disposed beneath said free edge, said plate being provided with a slot, and resilient screen supporting means having a guide portion slidable in said slot.

7. In a detention screen structure of the type wherein a planar mesh screen panel has its edge portions resiliently suspended from peripheral supporting and retaining means, a screen supporting frame of channeled contour comprising a base portion disposed generally parallel to the plane of the screen panel, and inner and outer flanges spaced from each other and rigid with said base and extending from said base in angular relationship thereto, the inner said flange having an inturned free edge portion extending towards the outer said flange, a plate member disposed between said flanges, the outer said flange having spaced apertures therein, an edge portion of said plate having spaced projections fitted to be insertible in said apertures, the edge of said plate opposite said projections having spaced abutment portions abutting said inturned free edge, and a deformable bridge portion extending between said abutment portions and disposed beneath said free edge, said plate being provided with surface contour means adapted to receive screen frame lock operating means.

8. In a detention screen structure of the type wherein a planar mesh screen panel has its edge portions resiliently suspended from peripheral supporting and retaining means, a screen supporting frame of channeled contour comprising a base portion disposed generally parallel to the 1 plane of the screen panel, and inner and outer flanges spaced from each other and rigid with said base and extending from said base in angular relationship thereto, the inner said flange having an inturned free edge portion extending towards the outer said flange, a plate member disposed between said flanges, the outer said flange having spaced apertures therein, an edge portion of said. plate having spaced projections fitted tobe insertible in said apertures, the edge of said plate opposite said projections having spaced abutment portions abutting said inturned free edge, and a deformable bridge portion extending between said abutment portions and disposed beneath said free edge, said plate being provided with means adapted to receive screen locking bolt means.

LEON E. WILLETT.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,059,677 Lund Apr. 22, 1913 1,201,338 Orr Oct. 17, 1916 1,245,044 Scott Oct. 30, 1917 1,665,475 Plym Apr. 10, 1928 1,797,511 Mensik Mar. 24, 1931 2,024,928 Johnson Dec. 17, 1935 2,101,349 Sharp Dec. 7, 1937 2,197,489 Trulock Apr. 16, 1940 

